Equipped For The Work Of The Ministry Part 2 - #24

Summary:

How can any of us even begin to speak the truth in love, as Jesus was able to do, without really being equipped to do so? God has to put these abilities in us and that comes through this equipping process, worked deep within our hearts.

 

Show Notes:

• Two things keep coming to me. The number of signs and wonders are not happening near as much in the church as they should be happening. And, the other thing that is not happening as much as it should is the expression of agape, unconditional love among the people in the Body of Christ.

• Speaking the truth in love (agape love) really needs to happen or the church is not going to have the testimony with those who are outside unless we’re exercising agape.

• Another example of speaking the truth in agape love was when Jesus pulled Peter aside and asked him if he loved Him three times. Peter was grieved, but with great love, Peter wasn’t a bit condemned.

 

Quotes:

• We have seen a lot of things around here in 35 years that we would all consider miracles, but not to the degree that I thought I would be seeing at this stage of my life, at the stage of my ministry. I thing there should be more.

• When Jesus met the woman at the well, He said, “you have had five husbands but the one you’re with now you are not married to”. That can come across as straight up condemnation. But every thing Jesus said was 100% seasoned with agape. So even though that was a hard, hard truth for her, it came across in a way that was easy on her soul and her spirit.

• The atmosphere around Jesus was always 100% charged with agape unconditional love. So Jesus could tell them, that straight up truth in a way that doesn’t come across as condemnation.

• There’s a favor blessing anointing that comes when we speak the truth in love. It calibrates their heart and touches them in a right place.

 

References:

Ephesians 4:9-16

John 4:6-26

Matthew 16:18

 

Takeaway:

Without sitting under and learning from the five fold ministries listed in Ephesians 4:1l and being equipped for the work of the ministry, we will not have the where-with-all to speak God’s truths with a deep love that they not only can accept the truth but get melted hearts in the process.